"We have no special panacea to preserve our mental force, physical vigor and long life. Our intensive life-saving health-giving medical research and new discoveries and the regulated and hygienic life we impose on ourselves. The rules are made by our health authorities and guided by them. They start before our progeniture, even before the meeting, marriage, or mating of our parents. The future of our race is a most important matter to our administration and to all Martians.
"During the adolescence of our youths and maidens they are carefully watched. They constantly undergo strict physical and mental examinations and tests. They are allowed to marry only when they have reached their prime of vigor and progeniture and are free from inherited mental and physical ills. During this period they undergo special physical exercise and treatments. They must pass satisfactory physical and mental examinations to prove their fitness before they are allowed to choose their mates and become parents of our children. We practice our latest sciences of euthenics for the advancement of our races, to prevent transmission by inheritance, or otherwise, of mental and physical diseases.
"We guard the progeny of our children as you do a pedigreed herd of cattle or an apple orchard. You choose the best and healthiest seeds, and as the trees grow, you prune them and prevent them from flowering and producing until the trees are developed, and strong. Such unions are allowed only when their ages differ no more than ten years from each other. We let natural sexual desire between young couples have its course only on the recommendation of our medical authorities.
"When they have such feelings, either she or he, without shame or disgrace, tell their parents before they enter into a marriage union. If they are found insufficiently developed either mentally or physically, they are kept separate and are given special physical training, and medicines to overcome such passions until they become matured.
"They always have genuine mutual desire, esteem, and love for each other. On your earth many of you marry for financial gain, or for social and family advancement. That does not happen on Mars.
"When they file their intentions to marry (they must be of the same race) they take special courses in family relationships and home making. These courses not only teach them how to conduct their future general intercourse harmoniously, but also teach them how to be good mothers and fathers.
"We want only children of young couples who are in their prime. Couples with the best physical and mental health who can transmit to their offspring their youthful energy and power. All others are prohibited from procreating. Under these conditions we bring into our world mentally and physically healthy and sturdy future citizens of Mars. We encourage early marriages, thus eliminating the hunger aroused by the mating instinct. Celibacy is a disgrace among us, with the exception of the very aged.
"From the time of conception until the birth of her child, the mother is carefully taken care of by our medical authorities. She must lead a quiet secluded life without any excitement and must take special treatments and foods so as to build up in herself and her unborn child good health and a balanced nervous system.
"From their natal day, we watch carefully the development of these children. Through their infancy, they are nourished at their mothers' breasts. They receive her love and affection in a tranquil home. Children are brought up in a quiet and harmonious home, where no fear, tension, or excitement is instilled in them.
"Qualified medical inspectors make frequent visits to these homes; where there is any suspicion of conditions prevailing which may be injurious to the child, that child is taken away to our infant institution, where it gets the best care. In our schools, we allow no high pressure cramming and straining of mind, nerves, and sight. Children are slowly and carefully taught the subjects easiest for them to absorb, and for which they have an aptitude.